Before consulting, before software, before large-scale programmes, and long before I understood what kind of career I wanted, I had a short but powerful chapter in the forces.

It wasn’t long.
It wasn’t glamorous.
It wasn’t the centrepiece of my career.

But it shaped me in ways I’m still discovering today.

People often assume the forces are defined by discipline, routine, precision, and physical fitness.
And, yes, those things are there — everywhere.
But for me, the greatest lessons weren’t about toughness.

They were about ambition, belonging, and the quiet pride of being part of something bigger than yourself.

Our division’s motto was simple:

Second to None.

Three words.
Easy to overlook.
Impossible to forget.

Those words became a blueprint for how I show up in work, leadership, and life.

The First Time Ambition Felt Like a Duty

In civilian life, ambition is often personal — about career goals, promotions, money, success, status.

In the forces, ambition isn’t about you.
It’s about us.

Your ambition is measured in how you support the person next to you.
How you show up when it counts.
How fiercely you protect standards — not for glory, but for integrity.

“Second to None” wasn’t a motivational slogan.

It was an expectation.

Not of perfection — but of commitment.

And that changed my relationship with ambition forever.

Structure That Made Space for Potential

The military gives you a framework not to restrict you, but to build you.

There’s structure, rhythm, and ritual in everything:

• how you prepare

• how you communicate

• how you prioritise

• how you respond under pressure

• how you train

• how you recover

• how you support others

• how you carry yourself

At the time, it felt strict.
In hindsight, it was liberating.

Structure didn’t limit me — it unlocked me.

It showed me:

• what consistency really means

• what standards look like when they’re lived, not preached

• how teamwork actually functions under pressure

• how clarity removes fear

• how discipline creates confidence

• how routine gives you control

Those lessons became the foundation of how I approach consulting, project delivery, transformation, and leadership today.

The Unexpected Lesson: Humility and Pride Can Co-exist

One of the first things you learn in the forces is that you are not the centre of anything.

You’re part of a unit.
A role.
A purpose.

Your ego doesn’t matter.
Your background doesn’t matter.
Your CV doesn’t matter.

What matters is how you contribute.

What matters is how others can rely on you.

Yet at the same time, there’s a deep, quiet pride in being part of something so focused and so intentional.

It taught me that real confidence doesn’t shout.
It doesn’t need to.

Real confidence is earned through action, repetition, trust, and service.

That balance — humility with pride — became one of the most valuable leadership tools I’ve ever learned.

Pressure Becomes a Teacher

For most of us, the first time we face real pressure is at work.

For me, it was earlier.

Being in the forces taught me that:

• pressure reveals who you are

• structure stabilises you

• preparation protects you

• teamwork saves you

• clarity guides you

• resilience isn’t toughness — it’s adaptability

I learned how to stay calm in chaos long before I ever joined an executive board meeting or stepped into a crisis situation in the NHS or utilities sector.

I didn’t know it then, but those early lessons would translate directly into:

• steering complex programmes

• supporting organisations under pressure

• leading teams through uncertainty

• making decisions in imperfect conditions

The environment was different.
The principle was the same.

“Second to None” Didn’t Mean Be the Best — It Meant Bring Your Best

For years, I misunderstood the motto.

I thought it meant “win.”
I thought it meant “outperform.”
I thought it meant “beat everyone else.”

But over time, I realised what it really meant:

Bring the best version of yourself every day.
Because others are counting on you.

It means:

• having standards

• owning your output

• being reliable

• showing resilience

• caring about the outcome

• honouring the people you work with

• taking responsibility seriously

• taking pride in your contribution

It’s not competitive.
It’s accountable.

And that mindset has shaped my entire career.

Looking Back

My time in the forces was short.
But it left a mark that has followed me into every major chapter of my life:

• how I lead

• how I show up

• how I prepare

• how I coach others

• how I handle pressure

• how I set expectations

• how I define ambition

It taught me that ambition is not arrogance.
Ambition is stewardship.
Ambition is discipline.
Ambition is responsibility.

Most of all, it taught me that “Second to None” isn’t about superiority.

It’s about standards.
It’s about integrity.
It’s about commitment.
It’s about trying — every day — to be someone your team, your family, your clients, and yourself can rely on.

And that lesson has shaped my life more than any qualification, award, or job title ever could.